diff --git a/modules/home-manager.nix b/modules/home-manager.nix
index 6181b6d..82b18a5 100644
--- a/modules/home-manager.nix
+++ b/modules/home-manager.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ let
         imports = import <home-manager/modules/modules.nix> {
           inherit pkgs;
           lib = extendedLib;
+          useNixpkgsModule = !cfg.useGlobalPkgs;
         };
 
         config = {
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ in
         description = "Home Manager configuration.";
       };
 
+      useGlobalPkgs = mkEnableOption ''
+        using the system configuration's <literal>pkgs</literal>
+        argument in Home Manager. This disables the Home Manager
+        options <option>nixpkgs.*</option>
+      '';
+
       useUserPackages = mkEnableOption ''
         installation of user packages through the
         <option>environment.packages</option> option.